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Stop trying to dodge. Stop trying to protect your man in Bord Bia. Instead, protect Irish family farmers by removing the chair of Bord Bia and restoring trust in that organisation

takes all the risk, and the one without whom there would be none of it. We have the protests going down at Bord Bia at the moment. Only for the farmers there would be no Bord Bia. There would be nothing to market anywhere in the world. That

Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has engaged with the board of Bord Bia in relation to the report on the review of governance procedures at Bord Bia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52241/26

think the Sinn Féin proposal might be to disband Bord Bia and just let you lads run the organisation. We have a board at Bord Bia and the way State boards work is very clear. They meet, they look at different issues in relation to corporate governance

oblivious to what that success is built on. It is built on the work of our farmers. It is not Larry Murrin or Bord Bia that are out in this weather milking cows. It is not Larry Murrin or Bord Bia dealing with cows calving in the middle

deal for Irish farmers and the Minister needs to fight tooth and nail against these proposals. I was outside the office of Bord Bia today standing with Galway farmers who are continuing their protest against Larry Murrin’s position as chair of Bord Bia. This saga has gone

with my office. The fact is that farmers are hurt by the fact that they are subjected to strict regulations and rules by Bord Bia and are paying it €6 million a year. The latter is in addition to the taxpayers' money that is going into Bord Bia

what will I not pay. I am also speaking as a person. I hear an awful lot of people opposite me talking about Bord Bia inspections. To be honest, they would not know a bull from a heifer, a lot of them, and they definitely would not know … what a Bord Bia audit

chairperson of Bord Bia has to resign. Every single farming organisation in this State has said it has no confidence in him and he has to go. How on earth can we have a chairperson at Bord Bia promoting Irish food abroad when the primary producers have

regulations that Irish farmers must adhere to ensure our beef and dairy products are the best in the world, and the fact that Bord Bia benefits directly from this and promotes this message around the world, while at the same time the chair, Larry Murrin, imports Brazilian beef … through his private company has destroyed the confidence farmers have in Bord Bia. It has done serious damage to the confidence they have in this Government or whatever is left of it. His evasiveness in his answers at the committee last week might have seemed like a masterclass

position of Larry Murrin as chairman of Bord Bia is totally untenable. He has direct involvement in the importation of substandard Brazilian beef into Ireland. No Irish food processor should be importing this product into Ireland, but the fact that the chair of Bord Bia, an organisation that

once, I agree with the Deputy on something. Responsibility for confidence in Bord Bia is spread broadly. It is not on any one entity or farming organisation. Deputy Kenny also has responsibility. The soundbites he is coming out with here, which lack information and are designed to whip … farmers up, are also undermining Bord Bia

first meetings I had when I was appointed was with Bord Bia. I was very impressed with the organisation. It has 14 offices around the world. We export to 114 countries and many of those exports are drinks that are produced in Ireland. If we can promote … wine industry here, I am sure Bord Bia will be delighted to do so. I will be happy to work with Deputy Byrne to ensure that happens

Bord Bia Act and governance and professional standards state that there should be no legal impediments or conflicts of interest. It is also stated that compliance is essential in ensuring adherence to the code of practice for the governance of State bodies. Larry Murrin is allowed … chairperson of Bord Bia, when there is a complete conflict of interest. On the basis of what the Act states, he is involved in is insider trading. It is actually cartelling

with the direction of Government but the facts are the facts. In relation to Bord Bia, the Taoiseach's attitude can only be described as smug, lacking understanding and showing an unwillingness to engage with farmers. There is a significant impasse at the moment and the Government … attitude is one of "Hands off, there is nothing to see here" when the reality is that farmers are hurting because Bord Bia pushed them for standards and, meanwhile, its chair is importing beef. How many tonnes of Brazilian beef are coming into this country on an annual

their innovation is that they take farmers' produce to the market place and they are supported by the State through Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia. There are 13 or 14 agricultural attachés, off the top of my head, who are members of staff of the Department of agriculture … beyond, where there are great opportunities. We do that in consultation with food companies because the food companies can identify market opportunities. Bord Bia can also do so. The Department works with the relevant authority to gain market access, which is a lengthy process, and when

ensure Ireland continues to deliver excellence to international markets. I acknowledge the leadership and professionalism of the board and chairman of Bord Bia, Larry Murrin, in whom I have full confidence. Their strategic guidance and wealth of experience have been instrumental in promoting Ireland's reputation globally … open new ones and ensure Ireland continues to be recognised worldwide as a provider of high-quality food and drink. Working together - Government, Bord Bia and all the stakeholders — we can continue to deliver growth, stability and opportunity across the entire agrifood sector

heckling is a Sinn Féin trick. Let us park that one for a minute. The farm organisation currently protesting outside Bord Bia is refusing to allow its county executive chairs and the chairs of its commodities committees to receive the detailed briefing from that very chair about … Deputy and others have sold this to them. There is a level of detail there. Once the board of Bord Bia received that briefing, 12 of its 14 members found it absolutely acceptable because

same inferior products that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have enabled increased importation of. I can see why the Government retains confidence in Bord Bia's chairperson. By importing Brazilian beef, Mr. Murrin was simply aligning himself with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael policy. Our farming families face … cannot account for inflation. That is the crux of the issue before the House. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, alongside the chairperson of Bord Bia, felt that they could take our farming families for fools, that they could tell them there is nothing to be angry about

international markets. We all know the importance of market diversification in these volatile geopolitical times. We also know that Bord Bia has played a key role in that success. We have heard about its success in promoting our top-quality food and drink overseas. Like the Minister … teams on the ground that were speaking in Mandarin, engaging with customers and bringing them to political events. I saw how well regarded Bord Bia was. That does not happen by accident. It is easy to suggest that you can isolate one individual and call for a head

which is to the benefit of US farmers and businesses. The trade mission and its follow-up will be a timely opportunity for Bord Bia and its client companies to have direct engagement with key US customers. In relation to Northern Ireland, the agrifood sector has well-functioning … avoid unnecessary damage to both our economies. Even today, within my Department, there was a high-level meeting between An Bord Bia, senior officials from the Department and a large company of food stakeholders who were meeting to see can look for new markets which is crucially important

beef coming from Brazil does not meet the standards that European consumers should expect. There is no dispute about that. The head of Bord Bia imported Brazilian beef that does not meet these standards. That is not in dispute either. He is not coming here tomorrow to tell … dangerous Rubicon to cross. That is the reality. There is a red line that Larry Murrin has crossed. As the chair of Bord Bia, the organisation charged with marketing Irish food, drink and horticulture of the finest quality to which the quality assurance mark is attached and with

long as the current chair stays, we cannot have such confidence. It is hard to see why the Minister has not acted already. Bord Bia is not just another agency. It is the voice of Ireland on the world stage, carrying the hopes of rural communities and family … Ireland are watching. Does the Government stand with farmers? Do its members call on the Minister, Deputy Heydon, to remove the chair of Bord Bia? Whose side are they on? It is astonishing that the Taoiseach did not even know the powers that he had to remove

This is all the more reason to ensure we have confidence in Bord Bia. It has done an excellent job in marketing Irish beef and Irish food around the world. We all know that and it is not in dispute. What is in dispute is that the chairperson … look at this own position because it is simply untenable to allow these circumstances to continue while farmers are outside the gates of Bord Bia's headquarters protesting about this. They are not there because they want to be there. They are there because the Minister will

know bluetongue can be passed along this way. With the help of the Minister and his Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael colleagues, Bord Bia has been dragged into controversy but we cannot allow any more harm to the sector from the lack of action. It will be during … Fine Gael in how they treat our farming communities. I commend the farmers who have travelled from across the island to protest at Bord Bia around the clock, and the men and women who have stood their ground inside the building. Their message is clear and simple: enough